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“I start on Monday,” I answered, then grunted as he jerked me into a back cracking hug. Felix was like Declan and he didn’t treat me like I was fragile. I relented enough to hug him back before stepping away. I still wasn’t overly affectionate with anyone but Declan. That was just my personality by now.

“Yes! Awesome. I need to tell Tyler. We should celebrate. Drinks tonight?”

I gave him a flat look. “It’s the party tonight.”

He grinned. “Shit, that’s right. Tyler’s getting tatted tonight too. This will be fun. We’ll make it a double celebration then. Maybe Mal can make some cake. And we need liquor! I should check–”

I grabbed him by the back of his suit jacket before he could run off. Idiot was going to bug the shit out of Declan and tonight was about him, not me. I’d tell him about the job when the time was right.

“Leave Declan alone. If I find out you told him before I did, I’ll hurt you. Got it?”

He glanced over his shoulder, shooting me a sheepish grin. “Yeah, alright. That’s probably smart. Gotta tell your mate yourself. You wanna join me and Tyler for lunch? We go to a great place down the street a lot. All you can eat wings.”

When I nodded and released him, he took off to find his mate. My new boss shook her head with a smile.

“He’s like a big puppy. But he went to bat hard for you to get hired. He didn’t need to, I would’ve hired you anyway, but he really wants you to be here.”

Warmth flooded my chest, and I felt myself smile. I rarely smiled before I met Declan. Now, thanks to him and my friends, I was smiling all the time. It felt weird, to be honest.

I spent some time in HR filling out paperwork after having a chaotic lunch with Felix and Tyler. Those two idiots were obnoxious. After I was through, I only had a few hours to get home and get cleaned up before the party. No way was I showing up to the party in a suit. Declan would have a field day.

My phone rang before I could teleport home and I sighed heavily. “Hi, Athena.”

“Azzy! Get over here. I need a hand. I ordered a new bookshelf, and the thing came in pieces instead of put together. Who do they think I am? A carpenter?”

“Sure. Let me just go home and change–”

“Nonsense. I’m sure you look fine. If we don't start now, we won’t get it done in time for the party and I don’t want to drag this out for days. Chop, chop.”

Athena never let me get away with arguing with her. I knew better thanto try. If I didn’t go right away, she’d pester me until I caved. And after everything she did for me, I found it hard to tell her no.

“Alright, Athena. I’ll be there in a minute. Let me just text Declan.”

“I’ll allow it. Hurry up. And don’t you roll your eyes at me.”

I stopped mid eye roll and bit back a chuckle. “Sorry. Give me a few minutes.”

It ended up not taking that long to put the shelf together, but Athena refused to let me go home and change. She brought me some tea and demanded I tell her about my new job, because of course she already knew about that. My knee bounced, and I kept looking at the time, but she kept me glued to that seat until we had to go to the party. I dropped my chin against my chest with a sigh.

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” she snapped. “You look very handsome. Now let’s get going. Dante told me there would be food at this thing. You don’t want an old lady to starve, do you?”

Resigned to my fate, and the inevitable teasing, I teleported us just outside Declan’s shop. I could see him through the big front window and, like I always did, I took a minute to appreciate him before heading inside. I never thought I’d get that lucky to wind up with a mate. Especially not one as great as Declan. He wasn’t sweet and cuddly, like Callum’s or Mal’s mates. He wasn’t obnoxious like Felix’s mate. And he wasn’t shy like Hendrix’s mate. He was his own person. Rough around the edges like me and tough when he needed to be, but also kind and understanding. I trusted him more than I should have on day one, and that trust had only grown in the past few months. There wasn’t anyone that was better suited for me than him.

Athena squeezed my arm gently, and when I looked down at her, her smile was soft. “I made you a promise, Azzy. I told you that you would get your happy ending. Do I ever break my promises?”

“No,” I answered honestly, leaning to kiss her cheek. “Thank you. For helping me see him.”

“You did that all on your own, my dear. All I did was put you in his path. Now, let's go. I’m sure your mate will appreciate you getting dressed up for his party.”

“I didn’t–”

She ignored me, pulling me inside behind her. She smirked and winkedwhen Declan dragged me back outside, a familiar fire in his eyes. I sure as hell wasn’t complaining about it. I made a mental note to buy her something pretty once I could afford it. She deserved it.

Declan shoved me against the wall, his body pressed against mine. I shivered and pulled him closer, groaning when he yanked my mouth to his with a grip on my tie.

“I guess you like my outfit?” I murmured against his lips.

“If there wasn’t a room full of people, I’d be dragging you upstairs to show you how much.”

I hummed, pulling him closer and grinding our hips together as a wicked grin spread across my face. “Did I ever tell you how demons liked to claim their mates?”